The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed by President Obama in January 2011, is starting to take shape and CLFP staff is monitoring FDA updates and new requirements.
FDA finds that the most useful tool for them to strengthen the food safety system, notify food facilities of a possible threat and to monitor all food facilities in the United States is the food facility registration system as outlined in the Bioterrorism Act of 2003.
FSMA amended the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) §415 (as added by §305 of the Bioterrorism Act of 2003, which required food facility registration with FDA) to indicate that food facilities are required to re-register every two years, during the period beginning on October 1 and ending on December 31 in even numbered years. In short, all food facilities must re-register with FDA beginning October 1, 2012. Facilities are required to use Form 3537 to register, renew or update their registration. FDA is currently working on updating Form 3537 to be ready for the renewals and will be ready starting October 1.
For more information on FDA food facility registration click here.
To renew your food facility registration click here.
Step by step instructions click here.
Draft Guidance for Industry: Necessity of the Use of Food Categories in Food Facility Registrations and Updates to Food Categories:
California League Of Food Producers